How Staging Your Home For Sale Actually Helps Your House Sell
Staging your home might be easy to overlook when trying to sell, but it can significantly impact your profit and how fast you sell the property. Here’s how staging your home for the market can make your selling process easier.
Photo by Zac Gudakov
Influences Buyer Opinion
Emptying a house can make it feel unwelcoming, regardless of age or layout. Staging your property could make buyers more interested in making it their home.
Over half of real estate agents say home staging impacted buyers' opinion of the houses during a walkthrough. Eighty-one percent say a staged home makes it easier for their clients to picture themselves living in the property. In a study, 40% of buyers said they were more interested in visiting a house if the seller staged it for online photos.
First-time home buyers are more likely to want to view a staged space. In a survey, nearly half of Millenial and Generation Z clients said staging was “very important” or “extremely important.”
Forty-eight percent of sellers’ agents noticed staged homes took less time to sell than similar, unstaged properties. Knowing a neighborhood's demographic is beneficial, with 34% of buyers’ agents saying their clients are more likely to make an offer on a home with staging that fits their taste.
How a home appears can also impact outside opinions. Nearly one-third of buyers say they consult with family and friends who won’t live in the house. When more people are interested in your property, it is likely to sell faster.
Can Increase Your Selling Price
A staged home could sell for more than it otherwise would, helping recoup the initial cost. A 2021 study found staged homes sell for an average of $40,000 over the list price. A 1.3% investment in staging can result in a 7.1% increase in the purchase price.
While unstaged homes spent an average of 184 days on the market, staged listings often sold in less than one month. Without staging, many sellers would have to reduce their prices more than the cost of staging. By setting up your home for potential buyers, they may see a higher price as fair and be eager to snatch it up.
Making Smart Staging Decisions
While staging is often worth it, the type and amount of it is often a matter of evaluating the cost with the potential return on investment. Some agents say it depends on the situation, like if the home has a unique layout or isn’t generating any buzz on the market.
When agents stage a property, they often rely on a service that makes the property look as elegant as possible for interested buyers. In 2022, the average price for real estate agent staging was $800–$1,200. $300–$600 of that cost was for the initial design consultation. Homeowners can expect to pay a few thousand dollars per month.
Prioritizing a few rooms for staging can provide the best of both worlds. Potential buyers will likely use the living room, primary bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom for their typical purposes. Staging these helps show their possibilities while leaving other areas open for the purchaser’s imagination. Around 45% of agents say the living room was the most important location for staging, followed closely by the home’s main bedroom and kitchen.
Staging Your Property
When you decide to stage your property, consulting with experienced professionals can help you get the most benefits. However, you can boost an already attractive property by adding small touches.
Baking something in the oven during an open house doesn’t just prove it works but makes the kitchen smell homey. A bed in the primary bedroom with plush bedding can make a buyer want to sink in for a nap. Small rooms can benefit from a mirror that reflects natural light. Photos and artwork through the home can beautify it. However, less is often more. Ninety-six percent of agents recommend decluttering the home before walkthroughs, followed closely by deep cleaning the property.
Virtual staging allows agents to present multiple ideas to prospective buyers while saving money from decorating a home physically. Programs enable them to provide various layout and decor ideas, such as turning the same empty room into an office or home gym. You could create 3D models that give website visitors a complete picture of the home. Using them can save up to 97% of traditional staging costs.
The goal of any staging project is to make the home attractive to as many parties as possible. Speaking with your agent about how to achieve this can help you make the best decisions.
Making the Most of Your Home Sale with Staging
Selling your house can be a stressful and time-consuming process. However, staging can help you attract buyers, sell your property faster, and make the most profit. If you’re planning to go on the market soon, consider staging your home to access these benefits.
Author: Rose Morrison
Cover image by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash
